t not have made a lot of sense, but I’d have hoped you’d gotten to understand me a little better than this.”
He raised his eyes to meet hers. For the first time since she’d known him, she saw self-doubt there. He’d always seemed so quietly competent, so relaxed and assured. But now he looked...almost afraid, she realized with a twist of her heart.
“You said you didn’t need me.”
Had he really believed she would stay with him only if he made himself indispensable to her? “What I was trying to say was that I could get by without your help, if necessary. I have other options. Family and friends. A nice home and a good job.”
He nodded grimly. “I know. But I thought—”
Stevie had always been willing to risk everything for anyone important to her—family, friends, boyfriends. Only with Cole had she tried to be cautious, to put her fear of being hurt above those all-or-nothing instincts. Now she realized how foolish she’d been. What she’d found with him was worth more to her than any relationship she’d ever had before. This was not the time to become shy about expressing her feelings.
She met his eyes squarely. “I’m not staying with you because I need to, Cole. As grateful as I am to you for everything you’ve done, everything you’ve promised, that isn’t why I want to be with you. I married you because I care very deeply about you. Maybe I didn’t even understand how much at the time. During these past six months, I’ve come to realize that you’ve always been more than a friend to me. Even when I thought you weren’t interested, even when I tried to convince myself I wasn’t falling in love with you, I was fighting a losing battle. I won’t stay with you because I need to, Cole, but because I want to. If you want me, too, that is.”
“I want you,” he said almost before she finished her speech. He surged off the bed and leaned over her chair, his glittering dark eyes locked with hers. “And though I know you don’t really need me, I need you. I need your laughter, your passion, the color and energy you bring into my life. I don’t want to give that up. Not now, not ever. When the doctors told me how much trouble you were in when we arrived at the hospital yesterday, I nearly lost my mind. I couldn’t handle the possibility of losing you.” He swallowed hard before he asked, “Will you stay married to me? Please?”
She reached up an unsteady hand to cup his firm cheek. “Yes.”
Not even bothering to blink away her tears, she gave him a watery smile. “I made a promise to you on Valentine’s Day in front of Pastor Dave and Luanne. I knew even then it was for a lifetime. Besides, I owe you a dance, remember? I would never renege on a bet.”
“Damn straight,” he murmured as he swooped down to claim her lips.
He drew back after a thorough kiss that only left her wanting more. “I’m going to do my damnedest to make sure you’re never sorry, Stevie.”
She shook her head in fond exasperation. She heard a little catch in her throat as she replied. “You don’t have to earn my love. You have it. And I’m confident you care about me, too,” she added bravely.
It would be enough, she told herself. She would never have to doubt Cole’s loyalty and affection.
“I do care about you, Stevie. But I am also completely, totally in love with you.”
She felt her eyes go wide, her lips part in surprise. “You—you are? Since when?”
“Since approximately the day I met you,” he answered. “I didn’t think I was your type. Wasn’t sure I had anything to offer...until I found an excuse to make my move.” He gave her a glimmer of a smile. “And then you’ll notice I didn’t waste any time.”
She blinked rapidly against an incipient flood of tears. The last thing she wanted right now was to embarrass him. “I wasn’t sure you... I mean, I know you loved Natasha...”
Her voice trailed off uncertainly.
That cheek muscle twitched again, but he spoke evenly. “Natasha was a special woman. I loved her for her courage, for her determination, for her intelligence and grace. I grieved for her when she died, and I felt guilty as hell that I didn’t see how critical she was those last few days, even though I know she deliberately hid her pain from me. Then I fell for you, and to be honest, the guilt came back for a while when I thought about what a great life I’d have with you and Liam. Maybe that kept me from showing you just how much you’d come to mean to me. I won’t hold back anymore. I love you, Stevie.”
“I love you, too.” Her voice was thick, but she managed to contain the tears to a mere trickle. “And I’m glad you don’t feel guilty now. I’m sure Natasha would have wanted you to be happy. To have a family who loves you and makes you happy.”
“She would have,” he agreed. “So...don’t scare me again the way you did yesterday, okay? When I thought I was going to lose you, too—” Emotion choked his voice, bringing a fresh film of tears to her eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m so blessed to have you for my husband. And our baby,” she added, stressing the our, “is the luckiest little boy in the world to have you for a daddy.”
He kissed her again as their son gave a little purr of contentment in the bassinet.
Epilogue
The nursery was quiet, all the lights out except for the glowing turtle on the nightstand. Stevie and Cole stood side by side next to the crib, holding hands as they gazed down at the angelic six-week-old baby sleeping soundly on his back. The fuzzy little tiger Cole had purchased on their honeymoon in Branson sat on a nearby shelf next to the floppy-eared Easter bunny, both faithfully on guard against bumps in the night. Cole had given Liam the new Stripy the day he’d come home.
“I’m glad the baptism this afternoon went so well,” Stevie murmured. “And that everyone we love managed to be there with us.”
The church had been filled with friends and family. Stevie’s mother had spent the past week in their guestroom getting to know her grandson. Tom had made the drive to join them today, and had then taken their mom to spend a few days in Tennessee with him before she flew back to Hawaii. Cole’s mother and stepfather had traveled from Florida and were staying in a nearby hotel for a few days. Even Cole’s favorite uncle Bob had made a rare trip to Arkansas from his Wyoming ranch, where he’d lived for the past twenty years.
But it was the couple who’d arrived at the last minute before the service started that had most startled Cole.
“I have to admit,” he said now, “I nearly fell over in surprise when Dad and Peggy walked into that church. I didn’t know you’d even sent them an invitation.”